Two-piece pressed metal bearing race with means for resilient mounting

ABSTRACT

A bearing race comprises two identical pressed metal pieces. Each piece includes an annulus with a curved raceway on its inside surface and stepped segments continuous with the annulus. In assembly, the segments of each piece cross over the segments of the other piece and have portions which overlie the annulus of the other piece. The overlying portions resiliently mount the two piece bearing race on a support and allow radial movement of each annulus with respect to the support.

1451 July 31,1973

[ TWO-PIECE PRESSED METAL BEARING RACE WITH MEANS FOR RESILIENT MOUNTINGPrimary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-Frank SuskoAttorney-J. L. Carpenter and F. J. Fodale [75] lnventor: Martin J.Hogan, Sandusky, Ohio 7 1 .1 H 111, we [57] ABSTRACT [73 Assignee:General Motors Corporation,

D etmlt Mlch' A bearing race comprises two identical pressed metal [22]Filed; May 4 1972 pieces. Each piece includes an annulus with a curvedraceway on its inside surface and stepped segments PP 2501122 continuouswith the annulus. ln assembly, the segments of each piece cross over thesegments of the other piece 52 us (:1. 308/196 and have portions whichoverlie the annulus of the 511 1m. (:1. F161: 33/60 other p Theoverlying Portions resiliently mount [58] Field of Search 308/194, 184,196, the two Piece bearing race on a pp and allow 303/195 dial movementof each annulus with respect to the support. [56] References Cited 10Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,549 3/1940Chamberlan 308/184 R 16 z w at: 4

TWO-PIECE PRESSED METAL BEARING RACE WITH MEANS FOR RESILIENT MOUNTINGMy invention relates generally to antifriction bearings and morespecifically to a race which incorporates means for resiliently mountingan antifriction bearing which includes the race as a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical bearingrace of compact design which incorporates means for resiliently mountingan antifriction bearing when the race is used in combination with otherconventional components of an antifriction bear- III %have generallyaccomplished the object of my invention with a two-piece pressed metalbearing race which in its preferred form has the following features.

Both pieces of the two-piece construction are identical therebyminimizing tooling and inventory costs as well as eliminating anyconfusion in assembling two pieces when the two pieces are dissimilar.

A resilient support is integrally incorporated into the two-piece raceeliminating the need for separate resilient spacers, rubber rings,tolerance rings or spring devices as used in prior resiliently mountedbearings.

Each piece of the bearing race incorporates the resilient support in aminimum annular space providing a compact design.

Each piece is designed without any reverse or severe bends therebyfacilitating pressing of the pieces from sheet metal stock such as bydrawing, cupping or stamping.

The separate pieces incorporate means to retain the pieces in assemblyduring handling.

The separate pieces incorporate means to precisely locate the piecesaxially with respect to each other when the bearing race is mounted on asupport.

These and other features of the invention will become more readilyapparent as reference is made to the following detailed description of apreferred embodi ment in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation in section showing a ball bearing having an outerrace in accordance with my invention mounted in the counterbore of asupport.

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one of the race pieces shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the race pieces withretaining means for unit handling.

FIG. 5 is an elevation partially in section showing the upper half of adouble row barrel bearing having an outer race in accordance with myinvention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, a ballbearing is resiliently mounted in the counterbore 12 of a support 14against a shoulder 16 formed by the counterbore 12.

The bearing 10 includes a conventional hardened and ground inner race 18with a deep groove ball track 20 and a complement of balls 22 which arecircumferentially spaced by a cage 24.

The outer race 26 comprises two identical pieces 28 and 28a ofsubstantially uniform thickness pressed from sheet metal stock. Thepiece 28 is generally cupshaped having an inturned flange 32 at one endwhich connects with annulus 34 having a short cylindrical portion 36 anda curved portion 38. See FIGS. 2 and 3. The inside surface of the curvedportion 38 provides a concave raceway 40 for the balls 22.

their outer surfaces 46 lie in an imaginary cylindrical surface 48.

The race piece 28a is identical to the race piece 28 and correspondingparts have been identified by adding a" to the identifying numerals forthe race piece 28. The relationship of the pieces 28 and 28a forming therace 26 is evident from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The pieces 28 and 28a confronteach other with the segments of one interposed between the segments ofthe other. The

axial portions on the segments of one piece overlie the annulus of theother piece and vice-versa. For instance, the segments 42a of piece 28aare interposed between the segments 42 of piece 28 in the space betweenthe segments 42 and cross over with the portions 42a overlying theannulus 34 of the piece 28.

The pieces 28 and 280 being identical both have outer surfaces 46 and46a lying in congruent imaginary cylindrical surfaces 48 and 48a and arethus adapted to intimately engage a common cylindrical surface ofsubstantially equal diameter. The pieces are illustrated in FIG. 2 asthough they were engaging such a surface and it is important to notethat space is provided between the annulus 34 and the segments 28a andbetween the annulus 34a and the segments 28 at the cross over areas sothat the annuli 34 and 34a are capable of radial movement when thepieces are mounted in the counterbore of a stiff support such as isshown in FIG. 1.

The pieces 28 and 28a are designed so that at their proper relativeaxial positions the ends thereof are aligned and thus each of the pieces28 and 28a have one end engaging the shoulder 16. As shown in FIG. 1, akeeper plate 50 may be used to abut the opposite ends of the pieces toassure the proper alignment of the pieces 28 and 28a within thecounterbore 12. The keeper plate 50 is held against the pieces 28 and28a by a snap ring 52 mounted in a groove in the counterbore 12. I

The counterbore 12 provides a solid support for the axial portions 44and 44a by reason of intimate contact therewith over the substantialarea provided by the surfaces 46 and 460. From this solid support, theraceways 40 and 40a are capable of radial movement by virtue of thespaces provided at the cross over areas of the pieces and the elasticityof the pieces which resiliently deflect primarily at the cross overareas of the segments where there is a transition from an annulus to aplurality of circumferentially spaced portions.

It is also to be noted that the cross over support design minimizes theannular space requirements and allows pieces which have no reverse ordeep bends.

While two equally circumferentially spaced segments have beenillustrated for the purpose of disclosure, it is understood that agreater number of segments may be used so long as the segments of onepiece can be interposed between those of the other piece whether they besymmetrical or not. While it is preferable to have the race piecesidentical, such a feature is not critical and my invention encompassesthose designs wherein the two pieces are distinct.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a ball bearing race inaccordance with my invention slightly modified to incorporate aretaining feature for the race pieces. in this modification, each of thesegments 42 and 42a include a dimple 54 and 540 respectively to provideretention surfaces. The retention surfaces provide a diameter which is afew thousandths less than the maximum diameter of the annulus of thepieces so that the annulus of each piece may be snapped past theretention surfaces on the other piece and retained in assembly therewithduring handling.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further modification in which the resilienttwo-piece outer race 126 comprises similar pieces 128 and 128a. The race126 however is combined with two rows of barrel rollers l22 riding inseparate tracks on the inner race 118. The piece 128 has a curvedannulus 138 which provides a concave raceway 140 for one row of rollerswhile the piece 128a has a curved annulus 138a which provides a concaveraceway 1400 for the other row of rollers. The pieces 128 and 128a havecontinuous interposed segments which adapt the race for mounting on acylindrical surface to provide a resilient race as described in detailin connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

While all embodiments illustrated show an outer race in accordance withmy invention, it is understood that the principles of my invention areapplicable to an inner race in which case the segments on each piecewould be inside of the annulus and would be mounted on a shoulderedshaft or the like.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim: I. A resilient radial antifriction bearing race comprising afirst pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having afirst annulus with a first concave raceway thereon,

a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus, saidfirst segments having substantial axially disposed first portions spacedradially from said first annulus in a direction from said first racewaythrough said first annulus,

said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remotefrom said firstraceway lying in a first imaginary cylindrical surface,

a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having asecond annulus with a second concave raceway thereon,

a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, saidsecond segments having substantial axially disposed second portionsspaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second racewaythrough said second annulus,

said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remotefrom said second raceway lying in a second imaginary cylindrical surfacecongruent with said first imaginary cylindrical surface, and

said first and second segments being interposed and overlying saidsecond annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacingthere-between to permit limited movement of said first annulus and saidsecond annulus in the radial direction when said first and secondsurfaces are in intimate contact with a cylindrical surfacecorresponding substantially to said first and second imaginarycylindrical surfaces.

2. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondportions are arcuate in cross section and extend for a majority of thelength of said first and second segments respectively.

3. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondsegments have retention surfaces operatively associated with the annulusit overlies to prevent separation of the pieces during handling.

4. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondpieces are identical and said first and second segments are equallycircumferentially spaced.

5. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondpieces are axially coextensive and each have a flange at the end thereofremote from their respective segments.

6. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said race constitutesa split ball bearing race and said first and second raceways form atrack for a single complement of balls.

7. The combination comprising a support having a radial shoulder and acontiguous cylindrical surface,

a resilient radial antifriction bearing race mounted on said support,said race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantiallyuniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave racewaythereon,

a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulusabutting said shoulder, said first segments having substantial axiallydisposed first portions extending for a majority of their length spacedradially from said first annulus in a direction from said first racewaythrough said first annulus,

said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remotefrom said first raceway in intimate contact with said cylindricalsurface,

a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having asecond annulus with a second concave raceway thereon abutting saidshoulder,

a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, saidsecond segments having substantial axiallydisposed second portionsextending for a majority of their length spaced from said second annulusin a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus,

said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remotefrom said second raceway in intimate contact with said cylindricalsurface,

said first and second segments being interposed and overlying saidsecond annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacingtherebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and saidsecond annulus in the radial direction with respect to said support, and

antifriction means rollably engaging said raceways.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and secondpieces are identical, said first and second segments are equallycircumferentially spaced and said first and second portions respectivelythereof cumulatively total substantially 360 are degrees.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and secondpieces each have first and second flanges respectively at the endthereof remote from their respective segments wherein said second flangefirst and second raceways for a single track and wherein saidantifriction means is a single complement of balls.

1. A resilient radial antifriction bearing race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave raceway thereon, a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus, said first segments having substantial axially disposed first portions spaced radially from said first annulus in a direction from said first raceway through said first annulus, said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remote from said first raceway lying in a first imaginary cylindrical surface, a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a second annulus with a second concave raceway thereon, a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, said second segments having substantial axially disposed second portions spaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus, said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remote from said second raceway lying in a second imaginary cylindrical surface congruent with said first imaginary cylindrical surface, and said first and second segments being interposed and overlying said second annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and said second annulus in the radial direction when said first and second surfaces are in intimate contact with a cylindrical surface corresponding substantially to said first and second imaginary cylindrical surfaces.
 2. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second portions are arcuate in cross section and extend for a majority of the length of said first and second segments respectively.
 3. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second segments have retention surfaces operatively associated with the annulus it overlies to prevent separation of the pieces during handling.
 4. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pieces are identical and said first and second segments are equally circumferentially spaced.
 5. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pieces are axially coextensive and each have a flange at the end thereof remote from their respective segments.
 6. The bearing race as defined in claim 1 wherein said race constitutes a split ball bearing race and said first and second raceways form a track for a single complement of balls.
 7. The combinaTion comprising a support having a radial shoulder and a contiguous cylindrical surface, a resilient radial antifriction bearing race mounted on said support, said race comprising a first pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a first annulus with a first concave raceway thereon, a plurality of first segments continuous with said first annulus abutting said shoulder, said first segments having substantial axially disposed first portions extending for a majority of their length spaced radially from said first annulus in a direction from said first raceway through said first annulus, said first portions having first surfaces on the side thereof remote from said first raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, a second pressed metal piece of substantially uniform thickness having a second annulus with a second concave raceway thereon abutting said shoulder, a plurality of second segments continuous with said second annulus, said second segments having substantial axially disposed second portions extending for a majority of their length spaced from said second annulus in a direction from said second raceway through said second annulus, said second portions having second surfaces on the side thereof remote from said second raceway in intimate contact with said cylindrical surface, said first and second segments being interposed and overlying said second annulus and first annulus respectively with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit limited movement of said first annulus and said second annulus in the radial direction with respect to said support, and antifriction means rollably engaging said raceways.
 8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and second pieces are identical, said first and second segments are equally circumferentially spaced and said first and second portions respectively thereof cumulatively total substantially 360 arc degrees.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second pieces each have first and second flanges respectively at the end thereof remote from their respective segments wherein said second flange abuts said shoulder and further including radially extending means mounted on said support engaging said second segments and said first flange.
 10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said race constitutes a split ball bearing race and said first and second raceways for a single track and wherein said antifriction means is a single complement of balls. 